Driver, 18, caught drug driving through Wellington town centre
A teenage motorist spotted by police weaving across a Wellington town centre street in the early hours was twice the legal drug-driving limit, a court heard.
Officers found cannabis under the passenger seat of the Renault Clio being driven by Michael Anthony James Smith through Wellington. There was also a smell of cannabis coming from the car, which was carrying several passengers at the time, Telford Magistrates Court was told.
Smith had claimed that he had not taken any drugs in the previous four hours before police pulled him over in Regent Street in the early hours of October 22.
But the court was told the 18-year-old had glazed eyes and had spoken very slowly to officers at the roadside.
He was tested by police and was found to have four microgrammes of cannabis in a litre of blood. The legal limit is two microgrammes.
Smith, of Pemberton Road in Admaston, Telford, admitted driving a car under the influence of a controlled drug above the specified limit when he appeared at court.
Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 12 months.
Mr Adam Warner, prosecuting, said: "A vehicle was seen driving slowly and drifting in the road.
"The police suspected the driver may be driving under the influence of something and stopped the car. Police smelt cannabis coming from the vehicle and a small amount of cannabis was also found under the passenger seat.
"Police said Smith had glazed eyes and spoke very slowly. He was tested at the side of the road using a drugs swipe kit where they found he had cannabis in his system."
Mr John McMillan, for Smith, told the court he had not used the drug for several hours before he was caught.
He said: "Michael was co-operative with the police at the time and he has no previous convictions. He said the car smelt of cannabis but that had nothing to do with him and that he did not believe he was driving under the influence of drugs.
"But it had been four hours since he had taken the drug. He now understands the dangers and that the drug stays in your system hours after taking it and he understands he will be disqualified from driving."
Mr Paul Bodley, chairman of the bench, ordered Smith to pay a £110 fine and £135 in court fees.
